MI Champions

The Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning (MACUL) has been awarded a grant by the Michigan Department of Education to develop the expertise of teachers to use technology to improve student academic achievement. The purpose of the grant is to design and deliver a statewide model for professional development that will provide the skill set necessary for building based "Technology Integration Champions" at the local level.

NEW!  2010 Summer Training Schedule

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Tell your MI Champions Success Stories!

MACUL would like to share the success stories of the MI Champions members, teams & schools. How did the MI Champions program impact you/your team's approach to using technology? How did your involvement in the program impact student learning?
Tell your story on this form!

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Cohort 3 Accepted Teams

 

Eligible participants:

• A team of 3-5 certified teachers from the same school building in Michigan apply together for the grant. Only one member of each team may have attended the MACUL conference within the past two years.  Only one team from a building may submit an application to the MI Champions program.
• The number of teams selected depends on the funding available for this project. For 2010, up to 70 teams or 350 certified teachers will be selected. Teams not selected in 2008 & 2009 may re-apply but will not be given priority in the selection process.
  
• The team identifies on the application the percentage of students in their building, reported to the state of Michigan, that qualify for the free/reduced lunch count.

MI Champion Teams receive:

1.  MACUL Conference Attendance: (2) 2-day experiences
Expenses are paid for teachers to attend the required conferences held in March. They will have the opportunity to attend conference sessions and exhibits. The following funding allows teachers to receive 2 days of training at each conference for consecutive years at the beginning and end of the grant period. Conference reimbursement includes:

• Conference registration
• MACUL membership
• Reimbursement for substitute teachers (up to $100 per day)
• A stipend for mileage and/or one night's lodging depending on calculating the distance to the conference.

2.  Summer Training: 2 days 
An intense, two-day integration training is provided for all teachers and coaches.

• Trainers, materials, and teacher stipends of $100 per day are provided for each team member.
  
• Training sessions will be scheduled in many regions throughout the state.
  
• The training includes Universal Design for Learning, Web 2.0 applications and many resources for curriculum development.

3.  Coach Onsite Visits: 2 days
An experienced technology-using educator will be assigned to visit the teams onsite 1 day each semester of the grant year. Their purpose is to:

• help each team member meet the program requirements
  
• to assist members in implementing the strategies learned during the trainings
  
• Substitute teacher reimbursement is not available through the grant for the Coach Onsite visits.
• See Coach Onsite Visits for more information.

Requirements for each participating teacher:

• Participation in two 2-day MACUL conferences held in March
• Attendance at a 2-day summer integration training held at regional sites
• Implementation of a minimum of two integrated lesson plans developed by the teacher and shared on a state teacher website
• Completion of at least one online course or workshop. See Online Learning Component for more information
• Utilization of the support and help of the assigned Coach
• Completion of program requirements by MACUL Conference time at end of cohort year
• Completion of required surveys
• Collaboration with team members from building to advance the use of technology in student learning.
• Serve as a technology champion in the school

Requirements for each participating school's principal:

• Provide support to the school MI Champions team
• Meet with the school MI Champions team to determine the best way to utilize the services of the technology coach assigned to the school for the 2 on-site visits
• Commit to sustaining the integration of technology in the curriculum in the school

CEUs & Course Credits

CEUs are available at the MACUL Conference and Summer Training session. The participant pays a $10 fee for conference CEU's and there is no charge for the summer training CEU's.

University Course Credit is available through:

• University of Michigan - Flint: Dr. Robert Hahn
• Central Michigan University: Sharon Horgan

The participant pays the graduate course credit fees.